Search Traffic Ticket Records in Malden
Malden traffic ticket records are civil motor vehicle infractions filed through Malden District Court, which serves the city and three neighboring communities in Middlesex County. This page covers the court location and contact details, how to respond to a ticket, what fines apply, and how to search for your case or driving record online.
Malden Quick Facts
Malden District Court Location and Contact
One thing that confuses many Malden residents: the courthouse named Malden District Court is not in Malden. It is physically located at 4040 Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford, MA 02155. The court serves Malden along with Everett, Melrose, and Wakefield. The name refers to the court's district, not its street address. If you have a hearing, go to Medford, not to Malden City Hall or anywhere else in Malden proper.
The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The main phone number is (781) 322-7500. For traffic citation matters, ask for the civil clerk's office when you call. The Malden District Court page at mass.gov has current directions and any schedule updates.
If you are not sure which court your ticket was assigned to, check the citation itself. The court name and address appear on the front. You can also look up your case for free on MassCourts, the state's public court records system. Search by your name or the citation number to confirm the court and see the case status.
| Court | Malden District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 4040 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford, MA 02155 |
| Phone | (781) 322-7500 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Jurisdiction | Everett, Malden, Melrose, Wakefield |
| Court Info | mass.gov - Malden District Court |
The Malden District Court listing at mass.gov is shown below.
The court is located in Medford on Mystic Valley Parkway, and handles all traffic ticket hearings for Malden and the surrounding district.
Responding to a Malden Traffic Ticket
You have 20 days from the date on the citation to respond. That date is printed on the ticket. If you let it lapse, the RMV can default the ticket and potentially suspend your license. The state does not send reminders. You need to act on your own within that window.
Paying the fine is one option. You can pay online, by mail, or in person at an RMV service center. Go to mass.gov to pay your traffic ticket for instructions. Paying admits the violation. The ticket becomes a surchargeable event on your driving record, and your auto insurance premium may go up. For minor violations, some people pay and move on. For others, it is worth contesting.
A Clerk-Magistrate Hearing is the most common way to fight a ticket. The fee is $25. The hearing is informal and takes place before a court clerk, not a judge. You explain your side of the story. The issuing officer is often absent at this stage, and in many cases the ticket gets dismissed when the officer does not appear. Even if the officer does show, the clerk can reduce or dismiss the charge based on the facts you present.
If you want to take it further, you can appeal to a judge. The fee for a judge hearing is $50. You can request this level directly or move to it after losing a clerk hearing. The judge hearing is more formal. Detailed instructions for both options are at mass.gov. The hearing overview page covers what to expect at each stage.
Malden Police Department handles traffic enforcement for the city. Their main office is at 800 Eastern Avenue, Malden, MA 02148, reachable at (781) 397-7171. If you have questions about who issued your citation or want details on a specific stop, call the non-emergency line there.
Traffic Fines in Massachusetts
Fine amounts are set by the state, not by the city. They are the same in Malden as anywhere else in Massachusetts.
Speeding 1 to 10 mph over the posted limit costs $50. Going 11 or more mph over costs $50 plus $10 for each mph above 10. On top of that, all speeding violations carry a $50 Head Injury Trust Fund surcharge. That adds up fast. A ticket for doing 20 mph over the limit, for instance, runs well over $200 once you factor in all the pieces.
Hands-free law violations carry separate fines. A first offense is $100. A second is $250. Third and later offenses cost $500 each. These violations are surchargeable and go on your record the same way moving violations do. The full list of what counts as a surchargeable incident is at mass.gov.
Three speeding tickets within a 12-month period triggers a 30-day license suspension under MGL c. 90, section 20. More serious repeat offenders can reach habitual offender status under MGL c. 90, section 22F, which carries a four-year suspension. These are state rules and apply regardless of where in Massachusetts you are ticketed. For a summary of suspension rules tied to multiple offenses, see mass.gov's suspensions page.
How to Look Up Records
MassCourts is the state's free public court records portal. You can search by name or case number to find any citation handled by Malden District Court. The system shows the court assigned to the case, docket entries, and current status. It works for open cases as well as older resolved ones.
Your driving record is separate from court records. The RMV maintains its own file of violations and suspensions. To get your record, use the RMV driving record request page. An unattested copy is $8 online through the myRMV portal. An attested copy, suitable for legal or insurance purposes, costs $20. The driving record reflects all violations on file with the RMV, not just what shows up in court dockets.
For older records or documents not available through online portals, contact the Malden District Court civil clerk's office directly at (781) 322-7500. Bring the citation number and approximate date of the stop if possible. Staff can confirm the status and point you to the right process for getting physical copies.
The traffic tickets page at mass.gov is a useful overview of the Massachusetts CMVI system for anyone who wants to understand how the process works from start to finish.
Middlesex County Court System
Malden sits in Middlesex County, the most populous county in New England. The county has several district courts spread across a wide area. Malden District Court is just one of them. Others in the county include courts in Cambridge, Framingham, Lowell, Newton, and Woburn, each serving its own geographic district.
Traffic citations are always handled by the district court assigned to the town where the stop occurred, not where you live. So if you got a ticket in Malden, your case goes to Malden District Court in Medford even if you live in Cambridge or Woburn. The court name on your citation tells you exactly where to go. If there is any confusion, call the court directly or check MassCourts online.
Middlesex County also has a Superior Court in Woburn and a Probate and Family Court. These handle more serious matters and are separate from the district court system that processes traffic infractions.
Middlesex County Traffic Ticket Records
Malden is one of many cities in Middlesex County served by the state's district court system. For a broader view of how traffic citations are handled across Middlesex County, including courts in Cambridge, Lowell, Framingham, and beyond, visit the county page.